Now that the dust has settled on the Ben Affleck as Batman casting news (after nearly 1000 comments on our original article), we can move on to exactly what kind of Batman Affleck will be playing in Man of Steel 2, otherwise known as Batman vs.Superman.

We’ve known for a while now that Superman would be squaring off against an older, more mature Batman in Batman vs. Superman. But what kind of shape will the Caped Crusader be in?

In a recent interview at the Bank of America Merrill Lynch Media, Communications and Entertainment Conference (via CinemaBlend), Warner Bros. CEO Kevin Tsujihara had an answer, remarking that the Batman seen in Batman vs. Superman will be “tired and weary and seasoned.”

But “tired, weary, and seasoned” shouldn’t be misconstrued as weak. As Zach Snyder and company reminded Comic-Con audiences, Batman is the only man to have beaten Superman. Here’s the famous quote actor Harry Lennix shared from Frank Miller’s seminal graphic novel, The Dark Knight Returns:

“I want you to remember Clark, in all the years to come. In all your private moments. In all the years to come, my hand at your throat. I want you to remember, the one man who beat you.”

Anyone who has read The Dark Knight Returns will recall that Batman defeated Superman with his brains, not his brawn (though he had some help from his money, too). That’s what’s always made Batman such a great superhero. He’s the ultimate tactician. He literally has a plan for everything. Of course, as we all know, Batman and Superman will ultimately end up working together in the film, which puts Tsujihara’s comments in an interesting context.

If Batman is truly “tired and weary” of crime fighting, he will likely see Superman as a potential savior: someone who can take over the burden of protecting society. On the other hand, Batman’s also “seasoned,” meaning he knows when something is off. His innately suspicious nature will recognize Superman as a threat. After all, he is a super powerful alien that’s partly responsible for destroying the better part of Metropolis.

That’s one thing that Batman (or more accurately, Bruce Wayne) will have in common with Lex Luthor. You can bet that both tycoons will be spending endless resources trying to figure out just how to beat Superman. The difference is that Bruce Wayne will recognize Superman’s dual nature (that he’s as much a human as he is an alien).

Anyway, these comments don’t necessarily give us any new information about the film, but they do provide some confirmation on a subject that’s been hotly debated.

What do you think of seeing Batman as an older, more experienced crime fighter in Batman vs. Superman? Let us know in the comments.